Electric soldering-iron.



P. M. GIPFENf ELECTRIC SOLDERING IRON.

APPLKOATION FILED JULY 17, 1912.

rammed. May 6, 1913.

, &

I451. ATTORNEYS WITHE'SSES //J FRANK M. GIFF E N, OF-SLAN ANTONIO,TEXAS.

fl ELECTRIC SOLDERING-IRON.

T 0 all whom may concern Be it known that I, FRANK M. GiFrEN, a citizenof the United States, and a resident of San Antonio, in the county ofBxar and State of Texas, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Electric Soldering-lrons, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in electric soldering irons, and itconsists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements hereindescribed and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a soldering iron having areceptacle for the solder from which the melted solder may be deliveredas desired.

A further object of my invention is to provide novel means forpermitting the flow of solder and for shutting it o Other objects andadvantages will appear in the following specification, and the novelfeatures of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

My invention is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings in which Figure1 is a side view of the device; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section; andFig. 3 is a perspective view of one end of the device.

in carrying out my invention I provide an elongated receptacle 1 for thebar of solder 2. This receptacle is provided at one end with a hingedend 3. Secured to one end of the receptacle above the latter is anhollow rod 4 which forms part of the handle, suitable insulation 5 beinginterposed. A wooden handle portion 6 is provided which bears a .thumblever 7. At the opposite end of the receptacle and forming in fact oneend thereof, is a metal member 8 which is provided with an opening inwhich is a rod 9 provided with an opening 10. This rod is arrangedtorotate on its axis and has a laterally extending arm 9* to which isattached a small bar or rod 11. An insulating member 12 is interposedbetween the rod 11 and a similar rod 13 which is connected to a portionof the thumb lever 7. A spring 14: is provided for keeping the opening10 normally out of alinement with the openings 15 in the member 8. A,copp r bar 16 is secured upon an integral porti'. 1'? of the member 8.This copper bar is yovided with a passage 16" which registers with theopening 15 in the member 8. The member 8 is provided with a recess 8 inSpecification of Letters Patent. Application filed July 17, 1912.

as fairly fall within the p Patented May 6,1913. Serial No. 709,893.

which is disposed a resistance or heating element 18. The latter isconnected to the wires 19 and 20 which pass rearwardly through thehollow member 4 where they merge near the wooden portion .6.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device theoperation thereof may be readily understood. The solder is insertedWithin the receptacle 1 by unfastening the hinged. end 3 which may beclosed and which is held in place by means of the latch 21. The ends ofthe Wires 19 and 20 are attached to any convenient source of current ofthe required voltage. The resistance element 18 will cause the heatingof the metal member 8 which will heat the copper end 16 and also thesolder 2 when the latter will begin to melt.

Pressure on the thumb lever 7 will cause:

the rotation of the rod 9 so as to bring its opening 10 into alin'ementwith the opening 15. The solder will thereupon run out through thepassage 16 to the place where it is to be applied. When the thumb lever7 is released the spring 14 will cause the turning of the rod 9 so as toshut off the flow of solder. The tool may be turned over so as to workon the beveled end of the copper portion 16 or it may be held in theposition shown in Fig. 2 when soldering the under side of tin work like.As fast as the solder melts it can be brought into contact with themetal member 8 by inclining the tool. It will be understood that the rod9 which forms the valve member and which is operated by means of thethumb lever is loose enough to turn freely even when the member 8 degreenecessary for successful operation of the device.

I am. aware that other devices based on the same general plan might bemade but I consider as my own all such modifications pirit-and the scopeof the invention.

I claim 1. In an electric soldering iron, a r eceptacle for a bar ofsolder provided with a hinged end, a copper soldering point or end, aheating elementdisposed between said copper end and said receptacle,said heating element comprising a metal body portion having a recess,and resistance elements disposed within said recess, said copper endbeing provided with a passage arranged to communicate with the interiorof said reor gutters or the is heated to the ceptacle, a valve carriedby said heating element, a spring for keeping the valve nor mallyclosed, a handle, a thumb lever car ried by said handle, and connectionsbetween said thumb lever and said valve for operating the latter.

2. In an electric soldering iron,-a receptacle for a bar of solderprovided with a hinged end, a metal heating element cent one end of saidreceptacle, a copper soldering point adjacent to the metal heatingelement, said metal heating element and said copper point being providedWith registering passages for conducting the liquid solder to theexterior of the soldering iron, a rotary valve carried by said heatingelement and provided with an opening adapted to register with theopenings in the heating element, a spring for keeping the valve normallyclosed, a handle, a thumb lever carried by said handle, and a rodconnected With said thumb lever at one end and said valve at the otherend. for operating the valve to permit the flow of the melted solder.

FRANK M. GIFFEN. Witnesses EMILY A. EMERSON, LEO TARLETON.

